New in Theaters August 21: Sinister 2, Hitman: Agent 47, American Ultra
Chris Kavan - wrote on 08/20/15 at 06:40 AM CT
So close to the end of August - it turns out I was wrong to assume nothing this month would match up to the fantastic August of last year. Because of Straight Outta Compton (which had an even bigger weekend than first reported - $60.2 million total - and also making it the 5th best August opening on record) last week was actually up over 6% compared to last year. I have a feeling Straight Outta …
New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of August 18-August 24
Harley Lond - wrote on 08/18/15 at 07:04 PM CT
THIS WEEK'S BEST BETS:
"La Grande Bouffe" (1973 -- France/Italy) is the most famous film by Italian director Marco Ferreri ("Dillinger is Dead"): it was reviled on its release for being decadent, self-loathing, cynical and frequently obscene -- yet it won the prestigious FIPRESCI prize after its controversial screening at the Cannes Film Festival. Though on its release it was amazingly …
Weekend Box Office: Compton Knocks It Straight Outta the Park
Chris Kavan - wrote on 08/16/15 at 10:25 PM CT
Expectations for Straight Outta Compton continued to improve as it approached the weekend, but even the most rosy of forecasts paled in comparison to the actual results. Because of the big wind for the NWA biopic, the weekend was up 4% compared to last year - I wasn't expecting any weekend to approach the record-setting August of last year, so this is nice bonus for Hollywood. Man from …
New in Theaters August 14: Straight Outta Compton, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Chris Kavan - wrote on 08/13/15 at 06:39 AM CT
We are probably going to see the last hurrah of the summer movie season, as a music biopic with some strong tracking and another spy caper hit theaters to cap off a (mostly) positive summer. Of course, August is still likely going to be down quite a bit from last year, as there is no Guardians of the Galaxy-sized hit to be seen - but the year overall continues to go strong and should be topped …
New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of August 11-August 17
Harley Lond - wrote on 08/11/15 at 04:41 AM CT
THIS WEEK'S BEST BETS:
The highlight this week is a Criterion Collection anthology of films by one of the unsung mistresses of film, Agnes Varda, who was a leading force in the French New Wave with her astounding real-time drama "Cleo from 5 to 7" (1962). Varda , whose remarkable career began in the 1950s and has continued into the 21st century, produced some of her most provocative works while …
Weekend Box Office: It's a Fantastic Bore as Rogue Nation Takes Top Spot
Chris Kavan - wrote on 08/09/15 at 11:08 PM CT
The weekend was a big disappointment in many ways. None of the new movies did particularly well (only one performed above expectations, while others suffered) and the result led to a 30% decrease compared to last year - the only August on record to break $1 billion. That isn't likely to be repeated any time soon - and certainly not this year. It was the holdovers that really had the best luck - …
New in Theaters Aug. 07: Fantastic Four, The Gift, Shaun the Sheep, Ricki and the Flash
Chris Kavan - wrote on 08/06/15 at 06:44 AM CT
As we enter August, we also enter the end of the summer blockbuster season. Last year, August was dominated by Guardians of the Galaxy - the surprise Marvel movie that led Chris Pratt to new heights (and likely his role in Jurassic World). This year we're no likely to see anything quite like that film breakout this month - which is likely to be only the second month of the year to lag behind …
New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of August 4-August 10
Harley Lond - wrote on 08/04/15 at 02:17 AM CT
THIS WEEK'S BEST BETS:
Just in time for the August 14 theatrical release of "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Hugh Grant and Alicia Vikander, Warner Home Video is releasing a remastered edition of "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: The Complete First Season" (1964-65), an 11-disc set with 29 episodes for $24.98. "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." captured the hearts of viewers when …
Weekend Box Office: Mission: Possible - Rogue Nation Easily Tops Competition
Chris Kavan - wrote on 08/02/15 at 09:42 PM CT
There was little doubt that Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation was going to win the weekend but the question remained whether Tom Cruise would be as big a draw as before or whether we were going to get another result ala Terminator Genisys. Luckily, it looks like audiences were in the mood for action as Rogue Nation didn't just top the box office, it did so in pretty spectacular fashion. It …
New in Theaters July 31: Vacation, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation
Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/30/15 at 01:36 AM CT
This is July's last hurrah - and it has been a very good July (especially compared to last year). So now it's time to see if the month is going to go out with a bang or a whimper. With a huge action sequel and a likewise big comedy, I have a feeling the month is going to end just as strongly as it opened. Hopefully August will prove just as popular with audiences. One thing is for certain - we …
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